Hence cardower, cardooer, curdooer, curdoer, (1) “one who works at any trade within a burgh in which he is not a freeman” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2, curdower; 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.); (2) “a tailor or sempstress, who goes from house to house to mend old clothes” (Ayr. 1825 Jam.2, carfower; Rxb. Ib., curdower); (3) “a travelling tinker” (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add., curdooer).
(2)Sc. 1837 J. G. LockhartLife of Scott V. xii.: The hangings and curtains, too, were chiefly the work of a little hunch-backed tailor . . . one of the race who creep from homestead to homestead . . . in Scottish nomenclature cardooers.(3)Abd. 1928 Q. B. Lane in Abd. Book-Lover VI. No. 1, 13: Wi' sowderin' bolt, shears, an' fite iron belyve, He shaws that a curdooer's wark's never deen.

2. n. ? One who carries on the profession of tailoring illegally, i.e. in a town of which he is not a freeman, hence a clumsy workman, or the work done by such.
Dmf. 1795 MS. Accs. Incorp. Tailors Dmf. (28 July): Spent in the search of 2 Cardoos . . 1/-.Ib. (2 Nov.): Spent at the taking of Selkirk's Courdow. 1/-. To the officer and party . . . 1/-.

[Origin uncertain, but phs. from Car, awkward, wrong, and dow, to do (see Dae).]